Course Superintendent

Willy Plowman, Course Superintendent

View Willy's blog here, it is everything you always wanted to know about the greens at Willow Fork, but were afraid to ask.

Willy Plowman began his golf course management career in 1975 at the Chaparral Club, a 9 hole private club located in Dickinson, Texas. In 1987 he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and worked at Rolling Hills Golf Resort. In fact, he was there while Caddy Shack II was being filmed. Willy returned to the Great State of Texas in 1990 to Willow Fork Country Club as the Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. The facility was currently under construction and opened in June 1990; Willy remained there for eight years. In 1999, he went to Cypress Lakes Golf Club in Cypress, Texas. The facility was currently under construction and was completed in October 1999. 419 Bermuda was planted on tees, fairways, and roughs; ultradwarf variety “Champion” Bermuda grass was planted on the greens. In 2001, Cypress Lakes Golf Club was rated number one for the best greens in Southeast, Texas. In fact, Willy has managed to remain at number one for six straight years. In 2005, the Houston Chronicle stated “Cypress Lakes’ Plowman has the right touch with turf”. In 2006 and 2007 Avid Golfer stated “they were blown away by the bentgrass quality of the club’s putting surface”. Willy’s involvement as a Superintendent goes well beyond the golf course maintenance level. He is continuously hosting seminars for other Superintendents and college students, sharing his knowledge and cultural practices. In 2000, Willy formed the Champion Summit, an annual seminar for Superintendents managing Ultradwarf Bermuda grass variety “Champion” in south and southeast Texas. In 2003, the Champion Summit expanded to the South Texas Ultradwarf Management Summit, open to all Ultradwarf growers including Champion, TifEagle, and Miniverde. A 2008, Ultradwarf Summit is currently being put together. Willy has over 25 years of golf course maintenance experience including the construction and grow-in of two separate courses. He also has experience in management of Ultradwarf grasses including Champion and TifEagle along with experience in bunker renovations and course beautification projects. Willy currently serves on the Executive Board as the Secretary/Treasury for the South Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association, Board of Directors for Texas Turfgrass Association, Advisory Board for Harris County Extension Agency and Houston Community College.                                      
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